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President Donald Trump renewed his endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, two days before Israel's national election, calling his longtime ally an "outstanding Warrior Prime Minister."

President Donald Trump renewed his endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, two days before Israel's national election, calling his longtime ally an "outstanding Warrior Prime Minister."

Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party is lagging behind in the polls ahead of Israel's first election since the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attacks. Matt Gutman has more details ahead of Tuesday.

The IDF ordered new restrictions on the West Bank ahead of Israeli elections this week. It’s focused on the city of Hebron, where Palestinian gunmen killed two IDF soldiers Friday. It comes just days before nationwide elections could determine Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political future. NBC News’ Matt Bradley reports from Tel Aviv.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pressed President Donald Trump for additional public support ahead of Tuesday's election, as final polls project his governing coalition will fall well short of a parliamentary majority.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces a close vote Tuesday, says Iran's leadership must be eliminated. U.S. President Donald Trump vows to "finish the job" in Iran eight months after the war began, as a third aircraft carrier and thousands of troops make their way to the region.

Voters go to the polls Tuesday in Israel to decide whether to stay the course with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party or turn to opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot and his Yashar party in a race that will inevitably impact U.S. foreign and domestic politics.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday warned Iran against attacking Israel on the day of its elections, telling Tehran, “Don’t test us.” Netanyahu released a video in Hebrew on Sunday ahead of the Jewish state’s elections on Tuesday. The prime minister is seeking to extend his tenure as Israel’s longest-serving prime minister. In the […]

The operation, focused on the city of Hebron, the site of Friday's attack, came as Israel enters the final days before a tense election, which is largely seen as a referendum on current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership and security policies during the past three years of war.

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — fighting for political survival in Tuesday's elections — has pleaded with President Trump in recent days to show more public support for his campaign, according to a U.S. source with knowledge and an Israeli source briefed on the matter. Why it matters: The U.S. source said the White House sees Netanyahu's aggressive lobbying as a "sign of desperation" and an indication that the Israeli leader thinks he's trailing. Neta Molcho a spokesperson for Netanyahu's Likud party, denied the prime minister asked Trump to support his campaign "in recent days or before his endorsement statement." The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Trump said in an interview with Newsmax two weeks ago that people in Israel asked him to get involved in support of Netanyahu. Behind the scenes: The U.S. source said Netanyahu spoke with Trump twice in the last three days and asked him to double down on his Truth Social post last week endorsing him. The source said Netanyahu even suggested language for additional statements of support. An Israeli source briefed on Netanyahu's efforts said the Israeli prime minister proposed that Trump hold calls with Israeli reporters to express further support. Driving the news: After weeks of hesitation, Trump endorsed Netanyahu last Sunday. He went so far as to suggest his defeat would have consequences for U.S.-Israel relations. Trump has never worked with an Israeli prime minister other than Netanyahu, and doesn't personally know any of the other candidates. The two have forged a close but often turbulent relationship. State of play: Three major Israeli television networks released their final pre-election polls Friday, all showing Netanyahu's coalition falling well short of a parliamentary majority. All three projected just 50 seats for Netanyahu's bloc in the 120-member Knesset — 17 fewer than his current coalition holds. His Likud party, which currently holds 32 seats, was projected to win just 20. The polls gave former military chief Gadi Eisenkot's opposition bloc between 52 and 56 seats, with another 14 to 16 going to two Arab Israeli parties. Channel 11 also projected four seats for a reservists party unaffiliated with either bloc. Pro-Netanyahu Channel 14 was the major outlier, projecting 60 seats for his bloc and 30 for Likud in a poll earlier this week. Between the lines: One U.S. official described the endorsement as a win-win for Trump, regardless of the outcome. If Netanyahu wins — or remains in power as a caretaker prime minister — Trump could claim credit for rescuing him politically and use that leverage to press for concessions. If Netanyahu loses and his opponents form a government, Israel's new leaders would still have every incentive to cultivate good relations with Trump. His endorsement of their rival would quickly become a footnote. Yes, but: Some of Trump's advisers see opportunity for his Middle East agenda in an Israeli government led by someone else.

Israel's closely contested national election Tuesday could leave the country without a clear governing majority for weeks or even months, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his chief rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, facing a political deadlock.Such a...

On Bloomberg This Weekend, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert discusses how security, democracy and the war in Iran are shaping Israel’s election and argues that the country needs a change in its approach to settler violence in the West Bank. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Olmert also examines how the US midterms could affect the US-Israel relationship and says decisions about further military action against Iran should be based on intelligence rather than electoral politics. (Source: Bloomberg)

On Tuesday, Israel will hold its first parliamentary elections since the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks. Essentially one man is on the ballot: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. How might Israeli policy change if the opposition succeeds?

On Tuesday, Israel will hold its first parliamentary elections since the October 7, 2023 terror attacks. Essentially one man is on the ballot: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Matt Gutman reports from Tel Aviv on the divide over Netanyahu, and how Israeli policy might or might not change if the opposition succeeds.

Humanitarian catastrophe largely ignored as rivals Gadi Eisenkot and Benjamin Netanyahu vow to end Hamas rule As Israel prepares to go to the polls , Palestinians in Gaza are bracing for an outcome that could shape their future, knowing their fate rests with the country that has reduced much of the territory to rubble and killed nearly 75,000 people. Gaza, where nearly a million displaced Palestinians face dire sanitary conditions, water shortages and the constant threat of Israeli strikes, has been largely absent from the election campaign . Continue reading...

President Trump's Middle East agenda can remain on track – or perhaps even enjoy new opportunities – even if the president's close ally Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu goes down in elections in Israel.

Some of President Donald Trump's advisers believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's defeat in Tuesday's election could make U.S. goals in the region easier to advance, even though Trump has endorsed him, Axios reported, citing U.S. officials.

Tens of thousands of Israelis living overseas are returning home to vote in Tuesday's parliamentary election, with many hoping to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid growing divisions over the Gaza war, national security, and military conscription.More than 50,000...

President Trump has endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu in Tuesday's Israeli election, but some of his advisers see opportunity for his Middle East agenda in a government led by someone else, U.S. officials tell Axios. Why it matters: Trump has never worked with an Israeli prime minister other than Netanyahu, and doesn't personally know any of the other candidates. The two have forged a close but often turbulent relationship. "He's the devil he knows," one Trump adviser said, describing the president's view of Netanyahu. Driving the news: After weeks of hesitation, Trump endorsed Netanyahu on Sunday — and even suggested his defeat would have consequences for U.S.-Israel relations. One U.S. official described the endorsement as a win-win for Trump, regardless of the outcome. If Netanyahu wins — or remains in power as caretaker prime minister — Trump could claim credit for rescuing him politically and use that leverage to press for concessions. If Netanyahu loses and his opponents form a government, Israel's new leaders would still have every incentive to cultivate good relations with Trump. His endorsement of their rival would quickly become a footnote. Behind the scenes: Many of Trump's closest advisers opposed his decision to endorse Netanyahu, believing the president should stay out of the Israeli election, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Vice President Vance notably declined to follow Trump's lead when asked about the election this week, amid growing hostility toward Netanyahu in parts of the MAGA movement. "I'm not attacking Bibi Netanyahu. I'm not endorsing Bibi Netanyahu. I think the president's endorsement is ultimately what matters," Vance told reporters. Zoom in: Vance, who endorsed former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán days before his election defeat in April , said he would no longer get involved in foreign elections. The vice president is among the senior Trump officials who became disillusioned with Netanyahu during the war with Iran, according to sources familiar with their thinking. Vance and other top aides believe Netanyahu's pre-war assessments to the White House were mistaken, deepening questions about whether he remains the best partner for achieving Trump's regional ambitions. The big picture: Once the Israeli election and U.S. midterms are over, Trump will face a defining choice for his Middle East agenda: whether to join Netanyahu in another major military operation against Iran. Netanyahu is eager to move forward. But the election results could influence Trump's decision, or at least the timing of any renewed large-scale fighting. Trump also wants to move beyond the Iran war and pursue an ambitious diplomatic agenda that includes implementing his Gaza peace plan , brokering deals between Israel and Lebanon and Syria , and ultimately securing a historic Israeli-Saudi peace agreement . Whether Trump can make progress on those goals will depend in part on who governs Israel — and what kind of coalition emerges from Tuesday's vote. The intrigue: Behind the scenes over the last six months, several of Trump's top advisers have grown dissatisfied with Netanyahu on key regional priorities. Gaza: Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have expressed frustration with Netanyahu's reluctance to advance implementation of the president's peace plan. Syria: Trump's envoy Tom Barrack has similar concerns about the Netanyahu government's approach to Damascus and continued Israeli military operations in Syria. Lebanon and the West Bank: Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his team have a better relationship with Netanyahu, but believe Israel could do more to strengthen Lebanon's government. They are also frustrated by Netanyahu's failure to do more to curb settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank. Between the lines: Some U.S. officials say a new Israeli government without Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners could be easier to work with. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly declined to comment, referring Axios to Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu on Truth Social . State of play: Three major Israeli television networks released their final pre-election polls Friday, all showing Netanyahu's coalition falling well short of a parliamentary majority. All three projected just 50 seats for Netanyahu's bloc in the 120-member Knesset — 17 fewer than his current coalition holds. His Likud party, which currently holds 32 seats, was projected to win just 20. The polls gave former military chief Gadi Eisenkot's opposition bloc between 52 and 56 seats, with another 14 to 16 going to two Arab Israeli parties. Channel 11 also projected four seats for a reservists party unaffiliated with either bloc. Pro-Netanyahu Channel 14 was the major outlier, projecting 60 seats for his bloc and 30 for Likud in a poll earlier this week. What to watch: The polls point to a potential political deadlock: Neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot appears to have a clear path to the 61 seats needed to form a government. Eisenkot would need to bring Arab Israeli parties into his coalition, which he has ruled out, or form a minority government with their outside support — an arrangement some of his potential partners oppose. A unity government between Netanyahu and his rivals is considered highly unlikely. If neither side can assemble a governing majority, Israel could face another election, with Netanyahu remaining in power as caretaker prime minister. The bottom line: Rather than ushering in a new government more receptive to Trump's agenda, Tuesday's election could leave the president dealing with a weakened Netanyahu and an Israeli political system consumed by another prolonged crisis.

Israelis will decide this week if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will remain in office.

Israel is heading to the polls for the first time since the 7 October attacks and concerns about national security are dominating the campaign. Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a significant challenge from the former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot as voters weigh up who is best placed to protect the country. In Tel Aviv, the Guardian's Will Christou discovers a deepening generational divide, with many younger voters saying that Netanyahu has not gone far enough in Gaza. Continue reading...

The prime minister has defined and dominated his country’s politics for three decades and is putting his rivals on the defensive before Tuesday’s general election They chant his name, they cheer and clap – and yet he is not the most dominant person in the room. Looming over the crowd that has gathered to hear Gadi Eisenkot, the former general who is the lead opposition challenger in Tuesday’s Israeli election, is a man who is not there. It is the man Eisenkot seeks to replace as prime minister, the man who first served in that role three decades ago and who has held it, on and off, for 19 of the past 30 years. It is Benjamin Netanyahu. Naturally, the warm-up speakers at this evening rally in the modest city of Modi’in, halfway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, stress the virtues of Eisenkot, a son of working-class Moroccan Jews who rose through the ranks to become chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces and entered politics only four years ago. But every sentence might as well end with two words that go unspoken: unlike Bibi . Continue reading...

The Oct. 7 attacks marred Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s image as Mr. Security. Ahead of elections, he’s trying to sell Israelis on the new, hawkish version of himself.

Kiryat Shmona, Israel's northernmost city, has long been a bastion of support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party. But that loyalty is no longer ironclad.

Israel’s elections on Tuesday will serve as a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu, the longest-serving prime minister in the nation’s history. Special correspondent Ilan Ben Zion recently joined international desk editor Matthew Bell in Boston to talk about what’s at stake.